Display device



J. V. HORR DISPLAY DEVICE Nov. 20, 1945.

Filed Jan. 22. 1944 INVENTOR John VHUIP ATTRNEY v Patented Nov. 20, 1945 DISPLAY DEVICE `lohn V. Horr, North Tarrytown, N. Y., assignor to Einson-Freeman Co., Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application January 22, 1944, Serial No. 519,273

2 Claims.. (Cl. 40-152.1)

My present invention relates generally to display devices.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved structurev by means of which a display unit may be conveniently and safely transported from place to place, and may be effectively exhibited, when desired, on an easel-like support. The present structure is so designed that the element or elements of which it is composed will normally serve as a compact and secure enclosure for the display unit, and may be adjusted, when desired, to define a rugged supporting structure in the form of a display easel. The structure is preferably composed of a single element of relatively stiff cardboard or the like.

While certain phases of my invention are not necessarily restricted to any particular type of use, the construction is primarily intended and is peculiarly adapted for the transportation and exhibition of a display unit which consists of a series of posters of educational or informative character. For example, the present device has proven to be particularly useful in the transportation and display, to members of the armed forces in the iield, of posters of substantial size, e. g., about 3 in width and 4' in length, or larger.

The structure consists essentially of a backing element on Which the display unit is arranged, and a cover element which normally overlies the display unit. 'I'he backing and cover elements are of relatively stiff cardboard or the like, and normally deiine a compact substantially flat enclosure which conceals and protects the display unit and permits it to be readily transported from place to place. The cover element has its top end hinged to the top edge of the backing element so that it may be swung upwardly and around to serve as a rear prop which supports the backing element as an inclined easel.

One of the features of my invention lies in the provision f a special type of fastening member which is carried by one of said elements and is adapted to extend either around the backing and cover elements to retain the device in closed condition or across the gap between the backing and cover elements to serve as a brace when the device is set up as an easel. In the preferred embodiment, the fastening member consists of a tie or string-like piece, which is xed at one end and has the other end free, the other element of the structure being provided with a supplemental anchorage with which the free end of the tie may be releasably engaged. One such fastening member may be suicient, but a more efficient and staunch construction results from the employment of two, or possibly more, of such fastening members.

Where the display unit is in the form of a series of superposed posters, composed of, relatively flexible material such as paper or the like, the stack of posters is secured along its upper margin to the backing element, so that when the device is set up as an easel the posters may be successively swung upwardly and rearwardly to lie face down against the cover element. In a structure of this kind, it is a further feature of my invention to provide each poster, on its rear face, with descriptive indicia which relate to the next successive poster and which are so arranged that they appear in upright condition when viewed from the rear of the device. This permits the posters to be used for illustrative purposes in connection with an oral lecture, the lecturer standing behind the device so as not to impede aV continuous clear View of the successive posters.

I achieve the foregoing objects and advantages, and such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplied in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a perspective View 0f a display device of the present character, shown in closed condition and viewed from the rear;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device adjusted into the form of an easel; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 illustrat-l ing its manner of use.

In the embodiment illustrated, a substantially rectangular backing element l0, composed of rel- Y atively stiff cardboard or the like, is hinged along its top edge to the top edge of a similar substan-V tially rectangular element ll which constitutes a cover element. The hinged relationship may be established in any desired way, and it has proven satisfactory to form the elements Ill and Il of a single blank of material, a narrow intermediate panel I2 connecting these elements along their top edges.

Carried by the backing element Hl is a display unit I3 which I have illustratively shown in the form of a group of posters. These posters are composed of relatively iiexible material, such as paper, and they are arranged in the form of a stack which is secured along its upper margin acter which underlies the group of superposed" posters.

The side margins of the backing element IIJ are preferably provided with inturned-iiaps II'I; and' the bottom or free edge is preferably'provided with a corresponding inturned ap I8. These flaps serve to rigidify the structure `along its edges, and they also serve to cover and thereby shield the free edges of the posters forming the-display unitwhenever the device is in closedcondition:

A similar set of inturned aps I9 may be advantageouslyformed. alongthe free edges of the cover. element I I, forrigidifying or stiffening purposes..

Carried by the elements4 Ii) and II- on their outer faces are complementary parts ofV a. fasteningy meanswhich fulllsa unique function` in connection with the present device. I have illus tratively; shown theY element ID. provided with diskI-likebuttons or anchorages 2li-arranged adjacent to thelower corners-of the device; and I.have shownthecover elements. I'I providedwith similar anchorages .2l which are correspondingly positioned.- A tie or string-like element 22,*is fastenedto each of theanchorages 2U, leaving. its opposite endfree.

Whenthe unit is closed,` as shown in Figures 1,2.and 3,-y each tieelement 22 is caused to extend around the backing and cover elements and into.

engagement with the corresponding anchorage. A preferred procedure lies in extending the elementi22. down around the bottom edges of the device, thence into interengagement with the anchorage 2 I, then back again around the side edges of.y the device into. i'lnal engagement with the original anchorage 20.

I have illustratively showntwo such fastening means, but it will be understood that only a single one might be deemed to be suiiicient, under cer-- tain circumstances, while more than two might be vdeemed'to be desirable under other circumstances.,

To facilitate the transportation of the device, thebacking elementV I is-preferably provided with a handhole=23` so that the device-:may be carried underv theY arm of the user, in a substantially vertical plane. During this transportation,- it will be observed that the enclosed display-unit is completely covered `and shielded.

When the device is ready to be used for exhi suming, for example, that each vtie element 22'` isfpermanently securedA at `one end. to one of;

the anchorages 20 on the backing element I0; the

free end is -caused toengage aroundfthe correr sponding anchorage 2I on the cover element II.

upon the cover element II.

Each fastening member 22 thus serves as a brace for the rear prop when the device is set up as an easel.

By arranging the parts as shown in Figure 4, the posters are exposed to view, and to indicate certain features of the present improved construction, I havedesignatedthe uppermostposter, in Figure 4, as Poster No. 1. The-posters may be successively exhibited by swinging each poster upwardly and around, over the apex of the easel structure into a position where it lies face down 'Ihis brings the next succeeding poster into view. Obviously, during this procedure, the flaps I'I and I8 are turned outwards, as indicated in Figure 5.

One of the features of my invention lies in providingV on the back surface of each poster certain markings or indicia which relate to the next successive poster, these markings being so a-rranged'thatthey are visible in upright" condition from the rear of the device. This-permits a lecturer tostand behind` the structure and to discuss the/successive posters withthe aid of thev descriptions which are successively presentedto View, the exhibited posters being at all5 timesfreelyexposed to the view of an audience posi--y tioned in front of the device.

Thus,v in Figure 5, I have indicatedPoster'N. 5" by the reference numeral-24 and have shown thsf poster in the processof 'being swung upwardly and rearwardly in orderY to bringfPoster No.- 6" into view. It'will be vnoted that on the rear-facev of the poster 24l`there is descriptive material-or indicia 25 which relates, not to Poster No: 5; but

to Poster No. 6. It will also-be'ob'served that the indicia 25Iare arranged'in such'a'relationship'- that they-appear in upright condition toa persony standing behind the device;

After'all the posters have'been'exhibited," they" mayr all beswung back into stackedrelationsliip onV the backing element I0, the aps I1 andIBare then-brought into the positions shown in Figure 4;

the tie elements 22 arel disconnected, and the.

cover element II isthen 'sWungforW-ardly again into its normal'covering relationship to thedisplay unit. again adjusted around 'the backingand oovernele.-

ments to serve as the meansfor. retainingthese.

elements in normal closed condition.`

The device thus affords a.. simple yet highly,

efficient unit for conveniently transporting. and.

exhibitingdisplay material. Being v.composed esquickly and conveniently tied or; secured vinl afnormally closed condition, in Whichpthef-contentsare--- well shielded `and protected, or.r it .may'be.set'up without the aid of or necessity for' any-special platform or. other pedestal orstructure-to forma.. staunchl thoroughly bracedy display, easeL: The'- device is rugged in structural character,- can with stand relatively rough handling, and hasproven.-

highly useful in thedissemination,ofeducational information to the rarmed forces inthe field.

In general, it will be understoodthat the detailsherein described and illustrated to explain. thev general nature of the invention may fbefmodied byfthose skilled in the artwithout departing from thespirit and scope of the invention 'as expressed ingthe. appended claims.

Having thus described my invention and illus- The Yfastening members 22' are, then.

trated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:`

1. A display device comprising a stiff backing element, a display unit thereon, a stiff cover element adapted to overlie said display unit when the device is closed, said cover element having its top edge hinged to the top edge of the backing element so that it may be swung upwardly and around to serve as a rear prop which supports the backing element as an inclined easel for said display unit, a fastening member carried by one of said eelments, and a complementary anchorage carried by the other of said elements, said fastening member being adapted to extend either around the backing and cover elements to retain the device in closed condition or across the gap between the backing and cover elements to serve as a brace when the device is set up as an easel, each of said fastening member and complementary anchorage being secured to the outer face of the element carrying it.

2. A display device comprising a stiff backing element, a display unit thereon, a stin cover element adapted to overlie said display unit when the device is closed, said cover element having its top edge hinged to the top edge of the backing element so that it may be swung upwardly and around to serve as a rear prop which supports the backing element as an inclined easel for said display unit, a fastening member carried by one of said elements, and a complementary anchorage carried by the other of said elements, said fastening member being adapted to extend either around the backing and cover elements to retain the device in closed condition or across the gap between the backing and cover elements to serve as a brace when the device is set up as an easel, each of said fastening member and complementary anchorage being secured to the outer face of the element carrying it, said fastening member comprising a iiexible tie having one end fixed and the other end free, and said anchorage being adapted to be releas-ably engaged by said free end.

JOHN V. HORR. 

